Market licences

Setting up your own market

If you’re interested in setting up a market or a car boot sale in Belfast you will need to apply for a licence from us as we own the historic rights to operate markets in the city, including those held on private property or indoors.

Cost of running your own market

These are the costs if you are running your own market in Belfast.

These costs are valid from 1 April 2026.

If a market is held on more than 14 days per year, it requires planning permission. Our current policy states that permission will only be granted to any organisation or individual during the course of any 12-month period, to hold a maximum of 12 daily speciality markets or for no longer than 12 consecutive days.  

Apply

We have two application forms and you need to choose one based on the type of market that you are planning.

These are:

• a charitable market or car boot sale or
• a commercial market.

For an application form and more information, email [email protected].

Operate a charitable market or car boot sale in Belfast

If you represent a charitable organisation and you want to organise a market of any size, refer to our checklist before completing the form. We will only accept your application if you can show that you have made adequate preparations appropriate to the nature of your market. It is important that you include documentary evidence in relation to each of these issues with your application.

Checklist for planning a charitable market or car boot sale

This checklist will give you information about the things you need to consider so that your market runs safely and successfully:

• Have you agreement from the owner of the land or building on which the market is going to take place?
• Do you, or the property or land owner where you plan to hold your market, have public liability insurance?
• Have you spoken to retailers and local residents (if any) about your plans?
• If there is going to be entertainment at the market, do you have an entertainment licence?
• If there are plans to sell food, are the stallholders registered as a food business with the council?
• How will you make sure that counterfeit or stolen goods are not sold at your market (as this will be your responsibility as an operator)?

We will only accept an application if you can demonstrate that you have made adequate preparations appropriate for the nature of your market. Before issuing a licence we may need to contact you to provide evidence that you have considered each of these questions.

Apply

For an application form and more information, email [email protected].

Operate a commercial market in Belfast

If you are planning a market that is commercial in nature, refer to our checklist before completing the application form. We will only accept your application if you can show that you have made adequate preparations appropriate to the nature of your market. It is important that you include documentary evidence in relation to each of these issues with your application.

Checklist for planning a commercial market 

This checklist will give you information about the things you need to consider so that your market runs safely and successfully: 

• Have you prepared a business and environmental management plan? 
• Have you agreement from the owner of the land or building on which the market is going to take place? 
• Do you, or the property or land owner where you plan to hold your market, have public liability insurance? 
• Have you consulted with the relevant statutory agencies, local retailers and local residents (if any) about your plans?
• If there is going to be entertainment at the market, do you have an entertainment licence? 
• If there are plans to sell food, are the stallholders registered as a food business with the council? 
• How will you make sure that counterfeit or stolen goods are not sold at your market (as this will be your responsibility as an operator)?

Apply

• For an application form and more information, email [email protected]

What happens next?

When we receive your application form the markets team will check the details of your application. You may be contacted to confirm details, and, in some circumstances, you may be required to provide additional evidence. In normal circumstances the application process may take up to four months.

When we are happy that you have provided sufficient information, your application will be presented to our City Growth and Regeneration Committee for consideration. For smaller and charitable markets, the decision may be taken by a council officer instead. 

When the City Growth and Regeneration Committee makes a decision about an application, it will then go to a full council meeting for approval (meetings usually take place on the first Monday of each month, except July).

If the application is granted, a licence will be issued to you and the market can become operational. If it is refused, you will be advised of the decision in writing. There are no appeals process regarding this decision.

Hiring St George's Market

St George's Market can be hired for events.

Request to hire St George's Market